IN THIS ISSUE Fire Section Cats • Taff the Fire Part 2 up to His Elbow in It Museum News Ascension Island AOC for the Day Beyond the RAF Fire Service
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ORCE & F D IR E A F L E A N Y C O E R • • F I N R O E I S T E IA R C VI O E FL CES ASS LUS AM SA MI NIS S ATQUE RUI ROYAL AIR FORCE & DEFENCE FIRE SERVICES ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE IN THIS ISSUE Fire Section Cats • Taff the Fire Part 2 Up to his elbow in it Museum news Ascension Island AOC for the day Beyond the RAF Fire Service www.rafanddfsa.co.uk Spring 2018 www.rafanddfsa.co.uk1 Flashpoint Magazine - SPRING 2018 Who To Contact - Officers and Committee Patron AREA CO-ORDINATORS Air Marshal Sir Roger Austin KCB AFC RAF (Ret’d) The Co-Ordinators Committee Member President Vacant Dennis McCann BEM Member 9 Lincolnshire Wood View, St Andrews Close, Alresford, Colchester, Steve Harrison Essex. CO7 8BL. 58 Gospel Gate, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 9JZ Tel: 01206 820715 Tel: 01507 355740 Vice – President Email: [email protected] Ron Brown Member 294 Cornwall, Devon & Somerset 38 Sedgebrook, Liden, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 6EY. Terry Mortimore Tel: 01793 496307 32 Newbridge, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3LX Email: [email protected] Tel: Chairman Email: [email protected] Neil Slade Member 934 North West & Wales 29 Orchard Close, Ash Vale, Surrey, GU12 5HU. Vacant Tel: 01252 492111 North Email: [email protected] Robert Atkinson Member 108 Vice- Chairman 4 Fairway, Stella Park, Blaydon, Tyne and Wear, NE21 Howard Harper Member 682 4LL. 34 The Westering, Meadowlands, Tel: 0191 4148176 Cambridgeshire, CB5 8SF. Norfolk Tel: 01223 292298 John Savage MBE Member 188 General Secretary 3 Mercedes Avenue, Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 5EJ Mike Clapton Member 704 Tel: 01485 532353 4 Fairfax Road, Cirencester, Gloucester, GL7 1NF. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01285 655314 RAF Email: [email protected] Steve Shirley MBE Grad I Fire E Treasurer 16 Rutland Way, Scampton, Lincoln, LN1 2UJ Trevor Hayes Tel: 07912 658402 2 Gypsy lane, Hunton Bridge, Kings Langley, South Hertfordshire, WD4 8PR. John Hurl Tel: 01923 331975 34 Copt Elm Close, Charlton King, Cheltenham, Email: [email protected] Gloucestershire, GL53 8AE. Membership Secretary Tel: 01242 522503 Brian Jones London Tel: 01269 594065 / 07772 247295 “Jess” Jessup Flashpoint Editor 44 Quentin Road, Lewisham, London, SE13 5DF. Reg Metcalfe Member 991 Tel: 0208 2187499 Naddlegate West, Haweswater, Burnbanks, Nr Penrith, Scotland Cumbria, CA10 2RW Alec Robertson Tel: 01931 713120 / 07791 075238 12 Kinclavin Crescent, Murthly, Perth, PH1 4EU. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01738 710487 Cambridge & Suffolk Vacant Northern Ireland Kenneth Green 2 Brooklands Drive, Whitehead, Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland. Tel: 01960 372595 Essex Ben Zaccardelli 98 Lyndhurst Drive, Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 1JZ. Tel: 01708 443593 Mobile: 07702271537 Email: [email protected] Flashpoint Magazine - SPRING 2018 2 www.rafanddfsa.co.uk Flashpoint Editorial SPRING 2018 irst of all I hope this edition finds you to it. W.O. Simon Marsh is taking over the for the next edition. I have now run out Fall well. My sincere apologies for the helm at Brize and has said that I can go so unless you want this magazine to be delay in getting my second edition out to down and spend a few days their once he all about me, could you please dig deep. you the membership. My father passed is settled into his new post after having it Gordon Smith is going to furnish me with away in February so as you can imagine cushy at Afnorth (Afcent that was). a stack of pictures which I am very grateful there was a lot to sort out but here I am for but it really is stories. Come on we were On a sad note you will all no doubt have ready, willing and able to move forward a right bunch of rouges so there must be heard the news about the museum. I am and continue at pace being the editor of some cracking stories to be told. totally gutted for W.O. Steve Shirley and this fine magazine that is so central to the his team. I am absolutely certain that Steve Well, summer might (and I say might very association. This year is a very special year will pull it back and move forward with loosely) be upon us so get out, enjoy but for us all with the 100th anniversary of the some real RAF Fire Service spirit. above all stay safe. Royal Air Force and the 75th anniversary of our very own Royal Air Force Fire I want to briefly touch on Mental Health. All the best service. I was lucky enough to go to the As some of you may know I was diagnosed Reg Metcalfe Member 991 National Arboretum on the 13th of May in 2016 with Complex PTSD, Borderline Editor for the RAFA Centenary Service which I Personality Disorder and Cyclothymia found very moving. Unbeknown to me was (on the Bipolar spectrum). Being a bloke the fact that our treasurer Trevor Hayes and having a lot of pride it took me a long was also there and sat very close to me. time to accept that I had a problem and no We had a conversation on the Tuesday after doubt some of that are reading this will be Hello Reg, thinking “ Reggie you have always been the event and could not believe that we had I am Tim Webster association member nuts so what’s different”. The difference is missed each other. Never mind Trevor we 1013.congratulations on your first that I made the decision to man up and seek will meet at the AGM. edition it is splendid. help. I suppose what I am trying to say is In the last edition I mentioned an idea of that please guys if you think you may have I have been involved with Steve doing flashpoint on tour and I am pleased MH issues just get yourself to the doctor Shirley and the collection since to say that my first visit will be to RAF and ask for help I am lucky enough to have 2005/6,which is my connection to the Leeming Fire section where I will meet up become a beneficiary of Help for Heroes assoc. I own a tacr2a 09AY98 ex RAF with Gordon Smith and spend the day at and spend a lot of time at the Recovery VALLEY. in the next issue could you the Fire Section. I am so looking forward Centre at Phoenix House Catterick. The ask the members if anybody served place is amazing and the staff cannot do with it and have any pictures of it in enough to help. I have done many courses service and any stories etc. there. However, what does help the most I live in Market Harborough Leics is the fact that they encourage you to chat next to the M1/A14 triangle. on openly with other veterans or serving your travels and you want a coffee personnel whilst in the centre. If any of our etc please contact me ,we have a members want any info on H4H or Mental preservation club in town where the Health issues please feel free to give me TACR is housed in luxury ,and all a shout as I will only too pleased to help. the facilities on site my number is Some of the more mature members May I also thank all those of you that have 07857461166. may have seen this scene in a certain given me support over the last two years publication that was our bible. since having my breakdown. Many thanks Tim This is a diorama that I built from the White Metal Kits that I produce and a Here I go begging again. Guys and Girls 1/72 scale Hunter. please could I have some more material FRONT COVER This photograph was taken by Museum of RAF Firefighting volunteer Gareth Jordan who took the WOT1 to an event called ‘Baston in the Blitz’ (near Peterborough) this August. The WOT1 was driven by him from Scampton to Cranwell where he stayed overnight and carried on the next day, and pleased to say the WOT1 made it back to Scampton. Before he left however he took the opportunity to re-create history. As we know WOT1’s also served the USAAF as part of the lend lease programme normally retaining their RAF markings they joined the crash crews to supplement the basic machines available to the Americans. The scene is now set at RAF Molesworth during WW2 and the fire battalion stands ready with their vehicles with a WOT1 and a Dodge Carrier poised to respond to the battle weary B17’s coming home from their latest raid. What a chance to re-create the past with another immaculate fire appliance. Equipment was very basic. Extra hose, rescue equipment like axes, extinguishers etc. Some were converted to carry pumping equipment and ladders. They could also be used for casualty/ evacuation as the stretchers fit perfect in the rear compartment. www.rafanddfsa.co.uk 3 Flashpoint Magazine - SPRING 2018 UP TO HIS ELBOW IN IT t was a dry bright morning on the day he, or words to that effect?, to this day I this have experienced putting a ring on Imy tale begins, it was my turn to be do not know what thought or idea made your finger only to find it won›t come off the JNCO i/c the Domestic Crew a duty me delay the departure of an emergency until some form of lubricant is applied?, I always enjoyed because, very often, vehicle whilst I ran into the kitchen to grab well this was exactly what happened, the there were many varied tasks to perform.